Quote by Al-Maarri: “The world is full of suffering; better not to be born at all.”

Al-Ma'arri expresses a deeply pessimistic view of human existence, suggesting that life's pain outweighs any joy. This quote reflects his anti-natalist philosophy, proposing that non-existence is preferable to enduring the inherent hardships of being alive, a powerful melancholic stance.

Al-Ma'arri, who became blind at a young age, lived a life of asceticism and seclusion. His "Luzumiyat" (Necessities) often explored themes of human suffering, skepticism towards religion, and the futility of worldly pursuits, influenced by personal adversity.

Syrian poet and philosopher born in 973 CE in Ma'arra al-Nu'man, considered one of the greatest and most controversial Arab poets, whose work challenged religious authority and conventional morality with biting scepticism. His collection Luzum ma la yalzam (The Necessity of What Is Unnecessary) is a landmark of Arabic literary pessimism.